Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/252097
SACRAMENTO (AP) — The state Senate approved a bill Thursday that would require people who assemble homemade guns to register the weapons and acquire seri- al numbers before they could legally own them. SB808 by Sen. Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, is intended to combat the spread of undetectable guns that can fall into the hands of people who are legally barred from own- ing firearms under state and federal laws. De Leon says so-called ''ghost guns'' are ''built at home and put together like Lego,'' often using parts that are widely avail- able without a back- ground check and using videos posted online. He cites the case of John Zawahri, who authorities said assembled his own military-style assault rifle and killed five people in Santa Monica in a June rampage, even after he was banned from legally buying a gun in California because of mental health issues. The legislation does not seek to stop the grow- ing production of such weapons, de Leon said. Rather, it updates Califor- nia law to address a grow- ing market, including weapons made on 3-D printers. ''It does not ban home- made guns. It simply holds these assembled guns at home to the same standard'' as other weapons, de Leon said. His bill would allow the manufacture or assem- bly of homemade weapons, but it would By ANDRE BYIK DN Staff Writer Mark Eidman, the longtime CEO at the Tehama District Fair- ground, said Thursday he is retiring from the position after two fair board members gave him the "opportunity to retire" or be fired. Eidman said in a statement that former board President Ray Bianchi and newly elected board President Linda Durrer approached him after the Jan. 21 board of directors meet- ing, telling him the board decided to go in a differ- ent direction. "I was given 24 hours to make this shocking and life-altering deci- sion," Eidman said in the statement, adding that Bianchi and Durrer did not elaborate on what that change of direction entailed. Eidman, who has been CEO at the fairgrounds for more than 13 years, said in an interview with the Daily News that he was caught off guard by the situation. He said he asked for, and was granted, an extension to make his decision. He added that he told Bianchi on Jan. 24 that he would retire. Eidman, 59, said his last day will be Feb. 7. Durrer said Thursday that she was not aware of Eidman's decision to retire, and declined to comment on personnel matters. Basic class Intermediate class Job Training Center • 718 Main St., Red Bluff Call 529-7000 Pre-Registration Required Thurs. Feb. 27, 2014 8:30 am to 12:30 pm Cost: $65.00 per person Thurs. Feb. 6, 2014 8:30 am to 12:30 pm Cost: $65.00 per person Just 10 slots available/Each person at a computer Weather forecast 6A Mostly sunny 59/34 N EWS D AILY DAILY 50¢ FRIDAY JANUARY 31, 2014 Geldings' Time to Shine Spartans Hoops Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com N EWS D AILY RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 See Pages 1B-4B SPORTS 1B Bull Sale Section 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 State board to probe RBUHS teachers group By CHIP THOMPSON DN editor The California Teachers Association will launch an investigation this afternoon into the Red Bluff Union High School Teachers Association Leadership Team for what it calls "charges of unethical behavior." Dana Dillon, of the CTA Board of Directors, District D, announced the investigation in a Wednesday memo to all RBUHS Teachers Association members. That memo was obtained by the Daily News late Thursday. "Several members of the unit contact (sic) CTA State Officer Team to convene an inquiry into the leadership body of the Teachers Association," the memo states. Among the charges to be investigated, the memo states, are dereliction of duties by the president, convening a meeting of the membership without proper notice or agenda and a blatant misrepresentation of the unit. Among the more serious charges were "Omitting items of discussions from agendas (no confidence topic)," issuing a press release with statements 'Several members of the unit contact (sic) CTA State Officer Team to convene an inquiry into the leadership body of the Teachers Association' — Dana Dillon, Calif. Teachers Association Fair CEO to retire Daily News photo by Rich Greene Outgoing Tehama District Fairground CEO Mark Eidman, right, is depicted in a mural at the fairgrounds. Eidman, who has been CEO at the fairgrounds for more than 13 years, said he is retiring. Eidman School holds Math Fest The students of Jackson Heights Elementary partici- pated Wednesday in a Math Festival investigating num- ber sense and problem solving. The students attended the festival that was brought to the school with grant money and school site support- ed funds from the California Math Council and pre- sented by Paul Giganti. At night parents and students returned to do more math together and share this experience with their fam- ilies. Courtesy photo Principal Dottie Renstrom works with students on their math skills. Flu impacts blood collections BloodSource announced Thursday that cold and flu season – including respiratory illnesses and H1N1 – are impacting blood collections in Northern and Central California. BloodSource is requesting that healthy and eligible blood donors donate blood today or in the very near future. BloodSource provides blood and services to more than 40 hospitals in a 26-county region. "Local cases of influenza and other upper respirato- ry tract infections have increased in numbers so rapidly during the past several weeks that we have seen a sub- stantial negative impact on blood donors," said Christo- pher Gresens, M.D., BloodSource senior medical offi- cer and VP Global Medicine. "As a result, we recently have found it especially difficult to collect sufficient quantities of blood for the patients we serve. That's Artisans and crafters needed Special to the DN When it comes to pre- serving our beautiful landscape for generations to come, the Tehama County Sanitary Landfill Agency knows you're never too young to do your part. Recognizing that knowledge is key, the Agency strives to provide students and educators alike with the necessary information and tools to make waste wise deci- sions in the classroom and at home. Recently, the Agency purchased a bus and is converting it into the 4Rs Kids Exhibit, a mobile waste awareness experi- ence designed to serve Tehama County students as a field trip on wheels. The bus is expected to be complete in the fall of 2014 and will travel to Tehama County schools, allowing students to access hands-on learning exhibits housed within the bus. To complete this pro- ject, the Agency needs the help of local artisans and crafters to transform the bus into an inspiring and informative exhibit, showing students why it is important for every per- son to reduce, reuse, recy- cle and rebuy. Some fun, hands-on exhibit ideas include: • The Bag Monster - a costume comprised of the number of plastic bags consumed by one shopper in one year. Students would be able to step into the costume. • The Seven Plastics- a matching game that chal- 'Ghost guns' face rules under bill See RBUHS, page 5A See FAIR, page 5A See FLU, page 5A See CRAFTS, page 5A See GUNS, page 5A